Callahan worked in the Iowa Legislature as a secretary for Rep. Tim Kacena, a Sioux City Democrat, during the 2018 session.

In a post on Reddit three months ago, Callahan wrote: “Worked in the House this session, and they're all a bunch of c---s.”

At the time, he was engaged in an online conversation about the fetal heartbeat bill aimed at limiting access to abortion and was posting under the username “ehhonlysometimes.”

On Wednesday, Callahan acknowledged he wrote the comment, adding: "That refers to any person that claims to have dominion over someone else who is a free and independent person. If I was elected, I would consider myself a c---, too. If I was elected a representative, I would consider myself a c--- because I am making laws that dictate other people’s lives."

On the Reddit site, Callahan wrote that he is “running on a Libertarian platform,” and is specifically concerned with the criminal justice system.

He wants to legalize marijuana for “personal and medical use;” privatize at least some elements of the court system; and release all non-violent drug offenders from prison and expunge their convictions from the public record.

“I do believe that one of the biggest problems facing Iowa is the police state,” he wrote. “Just get rid of government.”

Asked why he’s running for the Legislature, Callahan responded: “To change the landscape and to protect the citizens of Iowa from the federal government.”

Callahan also has posted to Reddit comments in which he says that if marijuana is legalized in Iowa and taxed at too high a rate, “I’m still buying black market. … How about just don’t tax it and leave people the f--- alone with their lives and money?”

Rep. Kacena said Wednesday he fully supports Abdul-Samad in the coming election. He said Callahan was hired by the Legislature as his secretary because he was engaged to the secretary for Rep. Christopher Hall, D-Sioux City.

"I sat next to John every day, and I never heard that type of language from him,” Kacena said.

Until recently, Callahan worked at ChildServe, a Medicaid-funded social service agency for children and young adults with mental and intellectual disabilities. He currently works at another mental-health service provider, Candeo, in Johnston.